Sat Apr 12 11:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump Urges Putin for Ukraine Ceasefire as US Envoy Holds Talks in St. Petersburg
**St. Petersburg, Russia** – Amidst escalating tensions and conflicting statements, US envoy Steve Witkoff held a four-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Friday. The talks, Witkoff’s third with Putin this year, focused on potential solutions to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. While described as “productive” by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, the meeting failed to yield any significant breakthroughs, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, publicly pressured Putin to expedite a ceasefire, expressing frustration over the slow pace of negotiations and the high human cost of the war. He stated on social media that “Russia has to get moving,” highlighting the substantial weekly casualties.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, reports emerged regarding comments made by Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, suggesting a potential partitioning of Ukraine. Kellogg vehemently denied these claims on social media, clarifying his remarks referred to a post-ceasefire peacekeeping force, not territorial division. Neither the White House nor Kyiv immediately responded to these reports.
The ongoing conflict overshadowed a separate announcement of €21 billion in military aid for Ukraine from European nations, underscoring the continued lack of a resolution.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of prolonging the war, citing the deaths of 19 people, including nine children, in a recent missile attack on his hometown. He also alleged the involvement of hundreds of Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces, a claim following the recent capture of two Chinese citizens in Ukraine. Zelenskyy renewed his appeal for enhanced air defense systems, a request he stated was also made to President Trump.
Trump, who has previously claimed he could resolve the conflict quickly, reiterated his belief that the war would not have occurred under his presidency. He also expressed anger and frustration with Putin over the lack of progress on a ceasefire.
The diplomatic efforts are taking place against a backdrop of complex US-Russia relations, including a recent prisoner exchange and ongoing discussions to restore full diplomatic relations. However, Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, emphasized the continuing disagreements between the two countries. The article also touches upon unrelated events such as Iran’s nuclear deal and the Menendez brothers’ potential early release.
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